Mondegreens for normal speech - is there a specific word for them?
I know that the term "mondegreen" (the term used for mishearing a word, coined by author Sylvia Wright when she famously misheard a lyric in The Bonny Earl of Murray) can technically be used for any misheard word, but I found myself wondering lately: does anyone know of a specific term used to describe misheard words outside of song lyrics?
To be clear, I mean if, say, you said to someone
You can't carry that, you have a bad back.
And they thought you said
You can't carry that, you have a backpack.
I haven't been able to find any other terms in my online research, but I'm really curious as to whether there is one. Have at it, StackExchange!
Solution 1:
Otosis conveys the meaning you are referring to:
- mishearing or misinterpretation of spoken sounds, also an alteration in word forms due to it.
(M-W)
Origin:
- Mid 19th cent. From ancient Greek ὠτ-, οὖς ear + -osis.
(ODO)